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“Teddy was tired of sitting on the fence, 
and Polly wasn’t comfor’ble in the tree.” 


THE DOINGS 

OF. A 

EAR Little Couple 

BY 

MARY DfERINE 


WITH TWENTY ILLUSTRATIONS 


PHILADELPHIA 

HENRY ALTEMUS COMPANY 


1 


•iiti :iij ‘ 

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67200 

I X.ibr*u y of Goaqrese 
'» wu Copies Received 
! OCT 37 1900 

Copynrtt entry 

StCOND COPY. 

Ottliv«red te 

OROttS DIVISION, 

OCT 30 1900 


TZi 

lo 


Copyright, 1900, by HENRY ALTEMUS COMPANY. 


THE DOINGS 

OF A 

Dear Little Couple. 


CHAPTER 1. 


A LITTLE TIFF. 


^EDDY TERRY sat on the fence, swinging 
his sturdy legs backwards and forwards, 
and kicking against the rails as hard 
as he could with every swing of his 
heels. He was whistling, too, just 
as shrilly and loud as he had wind 
enough in his little body to force 
the sound. He was sorry he couldn’t 
whistle zvords to the music, for he 
liked the words even better than 
the song, but just now it seemed 
very necessary that the whistling 
should proceed — and so I will repeat 
the words to you. Tf you know them, you will be also familiar 
with Teddy’s favorite music. 



‘Tretty, pretty Polly Hopkins, 

How do you do — how do you do? 

None the better — Tommy Tompkins, | 

For seeing you — for seeing you!” 

You notice there is something very saucy and not quite 

polite in the manner of Miss Polly’s reply to Master Tommy’s 

5 


THE DOINGS OF 


< 6 

' 

inquiry — -and I think it was just that spice of naughtiness on 
Polly’s part which earned Teddy’s admiration in the song. 
At any rate — it was his favorite of all the pretty songs he had 
learned in the book of “Children’s Musical Rhymes,” and 
at this very particular moment he had a special reason for 
whistling it. 

On the other side of the fence there grew a crooked old 
apple-tree. Its branches were low and easy to climb, and just 
now there was perched amongst its leaves a little human bird, 
clad in a pretty white dress — sadly torn, if I must confess 
it — a broad blue sash, and a ruffled and lace-trimmed sun- 
bonnet. A pair of black-stockinged legs hung down from the 
bough, and on one foot was a dainty blue slipper, while the 
other little foot was slipperless, because its small owner had — 
I must be strictly truthful — tried to make it into a ball — just 
a short while before — and had thrown it towards the fence 
with an angry jerk of her little arm. 

Now, as Teddy whistled, this small maid was singing, 
rocking her body backwards as far as she safely could, and 
then forward, until she was in danger of falling over on her 
nose. She was singing as loudly as she could find strength 
to, and making her words as distinct as possible. She had 
learned them in happier hours from Teddy’s book, too. 

“Oh— Tommy was a bad boy— 

Very bad was he! 

Oh, never any other boy 
Could any naughtier be !” 

Now, when I tell you that Teddy’s tune, and this little Polly 
Darling’s tune were totally different in time — and pitched upon 
two different keys — 3^011 can’t help knowing that they made a 
most frightful discord, and it was no wonder that the birds up 
in the high branches were so disgusted at the noise, that one by 
one they spread their little wings and flew as far away as possible. 


A DEAR LITTLE COUPLE. 7 

And that wasn’t all; for there were two mothers "wdio at 
that time were sitting on the piazzas of two pretty cottages 
a little farther back amongst the trees — and having a chat 
together. They had been speaking of the sweet peace of their 
surroundings, and of how very pleasant it had been thus far 
through the summer that their two little children — the dar- 
lings of their hearts — should have grown to be so fond of each 
other and were such loving little playmates — “such a dear 
little couple, and always in such harmony with each other.” 

But all of a sudden came this outburst of discord and din, 
and both mothers clapped their hands to their ears. 

“Well,” said Mamma Terry, “I’m sure I never heard quite 
such a racket from those children before.” 

“Nor I,” replied Mamma Darling. “I can’t imagine why 
they are screaming like that, with voice and whistle. It must 
be some new game.” 

Ah, no, indeed ! it wasn’t a game, as you know, but a 
naughty little quarrel, which was something rather unusual 
between this dear boy and girl, who were at heart the most 
loving of comrades, and had played together half the summer 
so happily. Something had gone wrong, some very little thing, 
of course, but it had made Teddy cross with Polly, and she had 
called him “a bad old cross-patch,” and he had made her go 
over on her side of the fence, and she had climbed into the 
old tree, and when safely there had told him he was “the 
baddest boy she ever knew.” Then he had said “she’d get 
punished ’cause she tore her dress Just being naughty,” and 
when she saw that she really had torn her dress climbing the 
tree in such angry haste, and heard Teddv laughing at her — 
she had deliberately taken off one little slipper — because she 
felt she “must throw something at that bad boy” — and had 
flung it at him hard, and as far as she could, without throwing 
herself out of the tree as well. 


8 


THE DOINGS OF 


Of course, the tiny slipper had not -gone far — and there 
sat Teddy still laughing at her, and finally beginning to whistle 
in that provoking way. 

So then Polly began to drown his whistle by opening her 
pretty mouth and starting up the most teasing song she could 
think of. She hoped he would understand that, when she 
sang the name the book gave, she was intending it to mean 
Teddy all the time, and she felt that the last two lines of the 
song he was whistling ought to be understood by him as her 
real reply. 

They were only seven years old — these two midgets who 
were making themselves very miserable on that bright summer 
day — only seven years old, and were “almost as good as 
twinses” — so Teddy had said a great many times. And Polly 
had always quickly added — “Yes, and we love each other jus’ 
as much as if we only had one mamma; don’t we, Teddy?” 
And one day when they had been asked jokingly which mamma 
would have been the best for them, if there had been “only 
one” for them after all — the children found it so hard to decide 
between their two mothers — that finally Teddy settled the 
question by saying, “Well — I guess it’s better not to be real 
twinses, but jus’ to be twinses in our hearts, you know.” — 
And I think that was a very sweet decision to come to, 
don’t you ? 

But we must go back to the children, and their little “tiff,” 
which means less than a quarrel. After they had grown quite 
tired of their own disagreeable noises, they paused to think of 
some new arrangement by which they could show that they 
“didn’t care for each other the leastest bit in all the world.” 

That wasn’t an easy thing to do, however, because they 
did care for each other — and Teddy was tired of sitting on the 
fence and whistling so long, and Polly wasn’t “comfor’ble” in 
the tree, and she didn’t feel half so much like singing as she 


A DEAR LITTLE COUPLE. 


9 



felt like crying, and she didn’t really think Teddy .as “the 
baddest boy she ever knew.” 

The tears wanted to come, at last, so badly that she couldn’t 
wink them away, and so she pulled the sun-boiinet lower down 


over the sweet little face with the pretty blue eyes (Teddy 
had always declared to be “prettier’n the skies, no matter how 
blue the skies were”), and so nobody, not even a bird, had one 
been prying around, could see that little Polly Darling was 
crying as fast as she could cry. 

2 


lO 


THE DOINGS OF 


Teddy, restlessly shifting his position on the fence, cast 
anxious glances in Polly’s direction, and a worried expression 
came upon his handsome little face. His brown eyes began 
to grow moist also, but though he was quite ready to cry — yet 
of course, as he was a boy, it would never have done for him 
to think of such things as tears, “unless — well — unless he hurt 
himself sometimes, and the hurt didn’t give him time to remem- 
ber that boys mustn’t cry, but girls could, of course.’’ 

Finally he called softly — 

“Polly, I say, Poll-e-e-e! we’re only funning, aren’t we, 
Polly?” 

No answer. Teddy slipped down on his side of the fence — 
and sat dolefully on the ground close beside the rails. 

Presently a little hand belonging to the figure in the tree 
crept slyly up and pulled the sun-bonnet to one side, so as to 
permit a pair of wet eyes to peep out in Teddy’s direction. 

But no Teddy was to be seen. Polly turned her face quite 
round towards the fence. No. Teddy really wasn’t there. 
Polly slipped from her seat and reached the ground very 
quickly, then she crept softly to the fence and peeped through. 
Her eyes weren’t so very tearful that she couldn’t discover 
Teddy curled up on the ground looking very sad. 

Just as softly as possible she sat down on her side of the 
fence— and pretended she didn’t know he was anywhere near. 

But the brown eyes had been watching her under their 
lashes, and Teddy could pretend as well as Polly. 

So there they sat — back to back — quiet as mice, and miser- 
able in each little heart, although the dear faces wore such 
make-believe indifference in their expressions. 

But before you could have counted twenty — Teddy’s head 
turned slightly so that he could look out of the corner of his 
eye at Polly’s back. 

Just at that moment it had occurred to Polly to do the 


A DEAR LITTLE COUPLE. 


1 I 

same thing, and of course, it wasn’t Teddy’s back that she saw, 
but his eyes — and in a moment both heads were turned away 
again. But not for long, because somehow they took another 
sly turn at each other, and so on, until the blue and the brown 
eyes looked round the corner so often that it grew to be funny, 
and both Teddy and Polly enjoyed a good joke when one 
came along their way. 

Finally Teddy put his hand through the fence rails, and 
touched Polly’s. 

“Say, Polly, I didn’t mean to — did you?” 

Polly was showing her dimples by that time — and she 
replied sweetly — 

“ ’Course not! you might know I didn’t; only you would 
be so cross, Teddy!” 

“Well — so were you cross, too, ’n’ I only was punishing 
you a little teenty bit,” answered the boy, feeling that he was 
being very much of a man in his manner. 

Polly lifted her head with great dignity. 

“I think my mamma is the one to punish me when Pm 
naughty, and not you, Teddy Terry,” she said severely. 

“There, now we’re going at it again !” anxiously cried 
Teddy, “and we don’t want to — do we, Polly?” 

“No, we don’t, and don’t let’s,” was the emphatic reply, 
and up jumped the dear little couple, all smiles and sunshine 
again, and they gave each other a big hug as a seal to the 
“make-up” — and there was the end — the very end of the 
little “tiff.” 

“What shall we play now?” asked Polly, climbing over 
the fence with alacrity, because she liked “Teddy’s side” better 
than her own. 

“Oh, anything!” the boy replied, happy as a lark because 
he and Polly had “made up” again. “I’ll play just what you 
want to. Isn’t it the beautifullest day you ever saw?” 


12 


A DEAR LITTLE COUPLE. 


Now, the day had been “beautiful” from its beginning, 
and all through the time of the children's sad little quarrel the 
sun had been shining brightly. 

But, you see, when there are shadows in one’s heart, some- 
how it isn’t easy to notice the sunlight around us, and we do 
not realize that we are making our own clouds, and spoil- 
ing our own comfort. Teddy and Polly had made it so cloudy 
all around them, that they actually hadn’t realized what a 
lovely day they were spoiling. 

Polly looked up at the blue sky, and snuffed in the sweet 
air — and looked about at the green sunny fields, and the pleas- 
ant, cool shade of the big trees around their pretty homes, 
and she drew a long breath of pure contentment as she replied 
to Teddy’s question — 

“Why, it’s the very preciousest day in the world, and it 
makes me happy inside, ’cause it is so bright!” 

Dear little Polly! she was “bright”; bright as a sunbeam, 
from her golden head down to her little feet ! 

(I mustn’t forget to say that after the passing of the 
“tiff,” Teddy had gallantly picked up the little slipper, which 
had been put to such a naughty use during the “misunder- 
standing” — and had tied it securely upon Polly’s foot again; 
but oh! how ashamed they were — both of them, as they 
thought about it!^ 



CHAPTER IL 

A FUNNY dilemma! 

B ridget was the laundress of the Terry household, and 
while the children were wondering what to do to 
amuse themselves — she stood out by the clothes-line, 
sorting over and hanging up her “wash.” She had emptied the 
big willow basket of its contents, and standing behind some 
sheets; didn’t see the little folks sauntering her way. 

But the big basket stood there in full view of Teddy’s 
eyes, and suggested some new kind of fun. 

“It’s big enough to hold us,” said he; “let’s play we’re a 
‘wash’ and Bridget’s going to hang us up to dry.” 

“Oh, goody!” laughed Polly, “you do think of the nicest 
things, Teddy dear!” 

So Polly sat down in the basket, and squeezed close against 
its side to make room for her playmate. 

Now, you must understand that these little people were 
chubby creatures, round and plump in limb as well as in face, 
and the truth of the matter is, that when Teddy had gotten 
fairly inside that basket and curled up beside Polly, they were 
about as uncomfortable as they well could be. The basket 
had high, stiff sides, and was a trifle smaller at the bottom 


14 


THE DOINGS OF 


than the top. The children had wedged themselves in so 
tightly that at last it was impossible for them to move, and 
their fun soon turned to grief. 

Bridget was singing a merry Irish tune, as well as she 
could with her mouth full of clothes-pins, and as her basket 
was at some little distance away, she didn’t notice the excited 
voices of the little couple who were trying to wriggle out. 

But presently she turned to go back to the house — and 
how she shook with laughter when she discovered her unex- 
pected “wash,” dumped together in a pitiful heap below the 
basket’s sides! 

“You just stop laughing, Bridget, and let us out, now!” 
commanded Teddy imperiously. 

“Arrah, master Tedd}^ ye’re in no condition to be orderin’ 
me loike that,” said she, still laughing at the funny sight. 
“Yez must be axin’ me politely, if yez don’t want to stay in 
yer little nest a bit longer.” 

Here Polly’s anxious face stuck itself as far up over the 
basket’s edge as possible, and she piped out — 

“Please, be kind to us, Bridgy, and pull us out; for Teddy’s 
sitting on my leg, and it does hurt so !” 

“Av coorse I will, darlint,” said Bridget, “but I’ll be roll- 
ing yez out, I’m thinkin’, for sure I’d hurt yere arrums if I 
pult yez hard, an’ yez so squazed widin.” 

So she gave the basket a push and over it went, and the 
children tried to crawl out. But you never saw anything stick 
and hold the way that basket stuck to and held poor little 
Polly and Teddy ! Finally, with the assistance of Bridget’s stout 
arms, Teddy got a chance to loosen himself, and at last shook 
himself free from the “tight squeeze,” and stood up straight. 

That, of course, released Polly, and she crawled out as 
fast as possible, her cheeks all flushed, and her hair all tangled. 

Teddy, after straightening his little jacket, and twisting 


A DEAR LITTLE COUPLE. 


15 


his knickerbockers to their right position, ran to the poor 
basket — as if it had been wholly to blame for their humiliation 
— and sent it oft', with a kick — so that Bridget called him “a 
very naughty boy” as she went after it. 

“Let’s think of something better ’n being a ‘wash’ to play,” 
suggested Polly. 

“All right,” replied Teddy. “Oh, I know ! let’s play bear, 
I’ke the bear that came by here with the Italy-man once; don’t 
you know ?” 

“Oh, yes, you be the bear, and I’ll lead you,” said Polly 
gleefully. But Teddy shook his head. 

“No, ’cause you ain’t a man, you see. You wear dresses — 
and whoever heard of a bear led by a girl?” 

Polly looked troubled. “But I don’t want to get on my 
hands and knees; it ain’t comfor’ble one bit, and ’sides, it’ll 
tear my dress worstest ’n ever,” looking ruefully at the rents 
already caused by the apple-tree branches. 

“Oh, no, ’twon’t, Polly; you just see it won’t. You see, 
I can tip my hat on one side, like this, and right off I look 
’zactly like an Italy-man. And — and you just growl and look 
awful cross, and you’ll look ’zactly like a bear — see?” 

'Polly saw — but the seeing wasn’t quite pleasant; besides, 
she didn’t feel cross, and 
didn’t see how she could 
look so for make-believe. 

“Don’t let’s play 
horrid old bear,” she said 
—let’s ” 

But Teddy interrup- 
ted quickly. 

“Oh, yes, do let’s, 

Polly! But I’ll be bear, 
if you won’t, and — I’ll tell 



i6 


A DEAR LITTLE COUPLE. 


you what — you can be the Italy-man’s wife — ’cause let’s play 
he’s sick, and — and — you was so kind you led the bear for him.” 

Polly brightened up. “All right,” she said, “what’ll I lead 
you with?” 

He ran to the wood-shed and found a piece of rope. He 
tied it around his waist, and got down on his hands and knees, 
beginning to growl terribly. Polly took the string and walked 
along on the soft grass. 

“Why, there isn’t anybody to give us pennies,” she pres- 
ently exclaimed, “ ’n’ Italy-men lead bears for pennies.” 

“Well — there’s my mamma and yours, and they’ll do to 
give us pennies,” said the “bear,” sitting up on his haunches 
to think his proposition over more fully with Polly. 

So they wended their steps — rather slowly, because Teddy 
had to roll from side to side like a bear that was born a bear, 
and besides, now and then his little knee would press on a 
pebble, and hurt a little — towards the piazza where Mrs. Terry 
was sewing, and finally that mamma looked up to behold a 
fierce, growling, very snappy creature before her — walking on 
restless knees and hands, and tugging at the rope which a tat- 
tered and very little “Italy-woman” was holding. 

“Please, ma’am, give me a penny; my bear’s so hungry.” 

“Grooooooo!” from the bear. 

“Oh, dear! he’s a very cross bear, isn’t he?” asked mamma, 
putting her hand in her pocket for her purse. “Pll give you 
two pennies if you’ll lead him away. There’s a very kind 
nice lady lives in the next house ; I think she likes bears. You 
might go and see.” 

“Thank you, ma’am,” said the “Italy-woman” politely. 
Then she bobbed a little bow, and went through the gap in 
the green hedge which separated the two cottages — and drag- 
ged her growling bear behind her. 

Mamma Darling was reading on her piazza, and when she 



3 


“Walking on hands and knees, and tug- 
ging at the rope the little ‘Italy-woman’ held.’ 



THE DOINGS OF 


I8 

saw her tattered little maid coming along she said to herself, 
“Dear me! Polly has torn her dress again even worse than it 
was before I mended it so carefully! Oh, Polly, Polly, what 
a careless little thing you are!*’ 

But you must know that she only said this to her own 
self — deep in her thoughts — for she didn’t wish to spoil the 
children’s fun, though she noticed that Polly — the little “Italy- 
woman” — kept the torn side of her dress out of sight as she 
drew near the piazza. (Polly felt a little guilty about that 
dress and its bad tear — you see — and very sorry for it too, but 
just now she felt that she must put it from her mind, and keep 
it from mamma’s eyes as well.) 

“How do, lady?” she said; “see my bear? got any pennies 
for him, he is so awful hungry!” 

“Grooooooo !”■ from the bear as before. 

“Oh, dear! oh, dear!” cried the lady, jumping up. 

“If he doesn’t get something to eat quickly. I’m afraid 
he’ll eat you and me.” The bear made a jump towards the 
piazza and gave a great growl over again. 

“You take him right to the kitchen door, Mrs. Italian, and 
cook will feed him,” said the lady. 

“Please, ma’am, I’m ’most sure my bear likes pennies best,” 
said the “Italy- woman.” So mamma drew out her purse, and 
handed Polly a penny. 

“The other lady gave me two pennies, to take the bear 
away.” 

“Oh, did she? well, here’s another then, and you may take 
him right away because he’s cross and might bite.” 

Here the bear said in very low tones to his mistress — 
“Tell her we’d like some cake. Cake’s good for bears like me.” 

So Polly said it — and the mamma laughed very heartily 
as she went in to get them each some cake. When she came 
out — she saw Polly sure enough, but the “bear” was gone. 


A DEAR LITTLE COUPLE. 


19 


and only a very warm-looking little boy sat there on the piazza 
step, with the little girl who still held the piece of rope in her 
hand, to tell the tale of the lost bear. “Why, this is funny !” 
she exclaimed, “has the bear run away? where is he?'’ 

“Oh, he was a fairy bear, and turned into a boy, and — ” 

“And the boy’s name is Teddy Terry; I see,” said Mamma 
Darling. “Well, here’s your cake, and after you have eaten it — 
I want this ragged little girl — who looks like a little girl I used 
to own — to tell me how that dress got into such a condition.” 

Polly hung her head. Teddy looked guilty, too, and 
mamma knew that something had gone wrong somehow. 

At last Teddy looked up bravely and said, “It was all my 
fault, Mrs. Darling, and it wasn’t Polly’s one bit, and — and 
you’re not going to scold her nor anything, are you?” 

His poor little face was puckered with anxiety as he lifted 
it to Mrs. Darling’s gaze. But Polly, too, had something to 
say — and she said it before her mother had time to answer 
Teddy’s question. 

“Mamma — mamma dear, it was jus’ as much my fault as 
Teddy’s, and I was so cross with him I climbed straight up 
the tree and tore my dress like anything, and — and I didn’t 
care, ’cause I was too bad to be good enough to care — and if 
you’ll say: T forgive you, Polly,’ I’ll be the carefullest girl in 
the world the next time ; truly I will !” 

Mamma Darling was such a darling mamma that she 
gathered the dear little couple both at once right into her arms, 
and she didn’t mind the soiled, little faces, nor the dirty little 
hands that rubbed about her throat and face ; she kissed them 
just the same as though they had been clean, and then let 
them run off for some more “good times,” though of course, 
Polly had to take off that much-abused little white gown, and 
put on another then and there. 



' ■ 

CHAPTER III. 


TWO USEFUL LITTLE PEOPLE. 

T eddy would have liked to own a bicycle, but his 
father thought a ‘"seven-year-older” would be safer 
on a tricycle instead, and therefore one afternopn 
when he (papa) returned from the city — he had with him a 
pretty little tricycle built of polished steel and nickel-plate. 
It didn’t look very unlike a real bicycle, but it was safer for 
its three wheels, you know — than if it had only possessed two 
(whereby Teddy’s little nose — or leg— -if not his little neck 
itself — might have one day come to grief), and Teddy was 
quite willing to wait for longer legs and a taller body before 
he could be promoted to a real bicycle. 

He ran at once to Polly’s house to show her his treasure. 
“You see,” he explained, “papa says, if I were only at the 
other end of seven, instead of being just at the heginning of 

it — he wouldn’t ’ject to my trying a regular bicycle, but mamma 
20 


A DEAR LITTI.E COUPLE. 


21 


she’s so awfully ’fraid, just’s if I’m a baby! and — I truly think 
this is better’ll nothing at all, don’t you, Polly? don’t you?” 

Polly agreed with Teddy, of course she did. If he had 
had only a plank with wheels on it — she would have thought 
it was all right so long as he owned it. In fact, she had a 
plank with four wheels on it, herself, and it was out in the 
wood-shed now, somewhere about. Only her plank had four 
sides to it, and a little seat inside — and it was all beautifully 
painted — and had a long handle to it. When she was very 
small, her nurse used to pull her round the garden in that little 
wagon. It used to have a fine cover, too, but that had been 
put away, no one knew where. 

Well — she admired Teddy’s tricycle — and after he had 
ridden about on it — working his short fat legs till they were 
tired — she got on and tried it. But they wanted to do it to- 
gether, and the thing couldn’t possibly hold them both. At last 
Polly had a bright idea. She ran to the wood-shed and hunted 
about till she caught a glimpse of her wagon perched on top of 
some boards and beyond her reach. She ran to the kitchen 
door and called Ann, the cook, to come and help her, and 
presently back she went to Teddy, dragging the wagon after 
her. She found him at the gate which led into the road, and 
he was looking after an old, crippled woman, who was walking 
up the road slowly, and as though every step were painful. 

'^Say, Polly,” said Teddy, ‘'there goes poor old black 
Susie ! She was crying when she went by here, and — I said 
‘What you cry for ?’ and she said ’cause she been’d to the store 
way down the road to buy some medicine for her lame leg, 
and she — she tumbled down a minute ago and broke it — didn’t 
break her lame leg — but the medicine — and she couldn’t go 
way back to the store again now, and she hadn’t any money, 
any way, and while I was feeling sorry for her, she went on 
up the road, and — don’t it make you feel real sad, Polly?” 


22 


THE DOINGS OF 


“I guess it does,” answered Polly; “see here! I know 
what’ll be nice to do, Teddy Terry. Look! here’s my old 
wagon. We’ll hitch it on your tricycle and when you make 
the thing work it’ll draw me, and you can be my horse — you 
knOw, and we’ll ask mamma to give us some money to buy 
more medicine for poor Susie — and — and — we’ll ride to the 
store and buy some over again and take it to her, and she’ll be 
so glad! Isn’t that a beautiful plan? isn’t it, Teddy?” 

“Oh, you Darling Polly!” cried Ted, throwing his arms 
around her. “Instead of calling you Polly Darling — I call you 
Darling Polly, k:ause I do love a girl like you ! It’s the bestest 
plan I ever knew — and no-w we can make the tricycle ride us 
both at the same time, you know.” 

Everybody in the neighborhood knew about “old colored 
Susie,” and knew her for an honest old soul, who wouldn’t 
beg, but preferred to earn her living in any way chance and 
good will offered. So when Polly and Teddy ran to Mrs. Darl- 
ing to tell of Susie’s trouble, and of their plan for helping her, 
the kind mamma at once provided the money, and told the 
children to ask the drug-store man what kind of medicine old 
Susie had been buying, and tell him they wanted more just 
like it, so there would be no danger of getting a wrong kind. 

Well — they were two very happy little youngsters — you 
may be sure — who started down the road a few moments later, 
on their way to the village drug-store. 

The next morning Teddy and Polly were up early, and 
as soon as breakfast was over they trotted off to old Susie’s, 
walking hand in hand up the road, carrying the bottle of medi- 
cine and some nice things to eat besides, tucked safely in Polly’s 
little basket. The distance was short, and through a shady 
grove part of the way, and the children enjoyed the feeling 
of responsibility rather unusual for them, you know, and felt 
very important and happy. 


A DEAR LITTLE COUPLE. 


23 


The squirrels chased each other around the trees at the 
roadside, and the birds kept on singing, and the sunbeams 
flickered about here and there in all their golden beauty, and 
the fair soft sky was full of pretty white “cloud-ships” — as 
our little couple liked to call the masses of white fleece floating 
away above their heads. 

By-and-by they left the road and took the shorter way 



through the grove. There was a pretty little brook close by, 
singing and babbling its way amongst the ferns and high 
grasses beside the path, and the children stopped to toss sticks 
into the water and make mimic fountains. There was one place 
where the brook widened out considerably — and out in the 
water stood a large flat stone. There were several smaller 
stones nearer the bank and by crossing on those, the large one 


24 


A DEAR LITTLE COUPLE. 


could be easily reached. But the small stones were rather 
unsteady because they were so round — and they wobbled con- 
siderably when Teddy put his feet on them and crossed to the 
large rock in the middle of the brook. 

Polly saw them wobble, and she was afraid to venture, 
though after Teddy had safely landed on the flat stone, he 
danced about gleefully, and called to Polly not to be afraid. 
But Polly hesitated still, though she fairly longed to cross and 
stand with her little comrade on the beautiful flat safe stone, 
which she believed the fairies had put there on purpose for 
children to play on. 

“Well, I wouldn’t act like only a girl” cried Teddy, watch- 
ing her with a little scowl on his brow. 

“I can’t act like anything but a girl !” replied Polly 
indignantly, “when that’s jus’ ’xactly what I am, Teddy 
Terry !” 

Teddy was just making up his mind to go back and help 
the little girl, when a gentleman appeared on the other side 
of the brook, and called to Teddy — 

“Wait, my boy! stay just where you are till I tell you 
something.” 

The children looked startled, but he laughed pleasantly, 
and held up a box of paints, and a piece of canvas. 

“See! I am an artist — a man who paints pictures — you 
know, and you two little people make such a pretty picture 
just as you are, that, if you’ll let me, I want to paint you.” 

Teddy looked at Polly, who had drawn back from the 
brook, and stood twisting the strings of her little sun-bonnet 
shyly. 

“I don’t want to !” she said. 

“ ’N’ I don’t want to, too!” joined in Teddy, preparing to 
cross back over the stepping-stones to Polly. 

“Come now, hold on; that’s a good little man,” called 





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4 


26 


THE DOINGS OF 


the artist. “It won’t take a minute, and you don’t know what 
a pretty picture I’ll make.” 

“Oh, I guess we can't stand still, ’cause we’ve got to take 
some medicine to black Susie,” said Teddy, turning a resolute 
little back to the artist on the bank — and stepping down from 
the large flat rock to a smaller one below. 

The artist looked at the two little figures, and at the rosy 
pretty face hiding back under the white sun-bonnet, and he 
felt that he could not lose this chance to sketch them. So he 
called again. 

“Look here, you little youngsters. I’ll give you each a 
bright silver half-dollar, if you’ll let me paint you. Come, 
now’s your chance to earn candy-mon^y, you know.” 

Teddy remembered when his mother had scolded him one 
day because he took a silver quarter from a gentleman visiting 
at the house. So now he replied — 

“My mamma doesn’t ’low me to take money from folks.” 
And straightway Polly chimed in — ^‘Mine doesn’t either !” 

The artist laughed. “See here, you funny little couple,” 
he said, “who is that black Sue you are taking medicine to?” 

The children explained about Susie and their errand to her, 
and their little faces, as well as voices, were eager and earnest 
as they talked. 

“Well, now,” said the gentleman, “she’s very poor, you 
say, and I think she would be made happy if someone gave 
her a little money, and I think she would be as glad as could 
be, if the money came from two such dear little people as you, 
and so if 3^011 stand a few moments and let me make a picture 
of you — you’ll have — as I said — two shining silver half-dollars 
to put into poor old Susie’s hand — and so 3^ou’ll be doing tzvo 
kind things — one to Susie and one to me! see!” 

The idea was a novel one — and the children “caught at the 
bait” (as fishermen say) right away. 


A DEAR LITTLE COUPLE. 


27 


‘‘Oh, Teddy Terry!” exclaimed Polly gleefully, “won’t it 
be sp — Undid to earn the money for black Susie?” 

“Yes,” replied the little boy — and then he stepped back 
again to the top of the large flat rock — and said to the artist — • 

“We’re ’greed to do it, mister, only Polly — she — she’s 
’fraid to cross on the stones, ’cause they wobble so.” 

“Oh, that’s no matter! Pd rather she would stand just 
as she is, only — well, put one little foot on the stone nearest 
you, my little girl, and play you wanted to cross over but 
didn’t dare to, and Pll soon have my sketch made.” 

“ ’Tisn’t playing” said Polly, “ ’cause Pm truly ’fraid.” 

It did not take the clever artist long to get the outlines 
of his pretty picture — and save for a few wriggles on the part 
of- Teddy, who saw no reason why, when he got tired of one 
position, he should not change to another, and some long- 
drawn sighs from Polly, who did not like standing on the 
wobbly stone — there was no trouble about a satisfactory sketch 
being made. 

And then the bright half-dollars were put into Teddy’s 
moist little palm, his fingers closed tightly over them, and he 
scrambled down from his rock and over the wobbly stones to 
where tired Polly awaited him, and not stopping to say good- 
bye to the artist (not very polite, was it?) — the little couple 
scampered off — fast as their small legs would carry them, in 
the direction of Susie’s poor home. 



CHAPTER IV. 

A QUIET AFTERNOON AND A LETTER. 

W HEN, our little couple returned to their homes they 
told the two mammas everything that had happened, 
and though it must be confessed that neither of 
them quite approved of their babies having posed for a stranger 
in that manner, nor of the money business, yet they hadn’t 
the heart to spoil the children’s pleasure and satisfaction in 
having helped poor old Susie. 

After lunch it had grown so warm that the children did 
not feel like playing very noisily, but were quite willing to 
take their little paint-boxes and their Kate Greenaway picture- 
books and sit with Mamma Darling on her cool piazza, while 
she made a pretty new dress for Polly. 

Ann had made some little cakes for them, and everything 
was cosy and comfortable as could be. Mrs. Terry came to 
the end of her piazza, presently, and called — 

“Tedd}^ be a good bov, darling, and don’t give Polly’s 
28 


A DEAR LITTLE COUPLE. 


29 


mamma any trouble, if you stay with Polly while I am gone. 

Pm going to the village ” she explained to Mrs. Darling, 

‘ho do a few errands, and if there’s anything I can do for you, 
I will with pleasure.” 

“No, thank you, my dear,” was the reply. “There is only 
one thing I want, and that is a mouse-trap for Ann. She 
says ours is useless, and last night she heard a mouse in 
the pantry. I hate to trouble you, but will you order one to 
be sent to me, please?” 

Mrs. Terry agreed, kissed her hand to the children, and 
went away. 

“Well — Pm sorry for the mouses,” said Teddy, “sorry as 
I can be, but they ought to be caught, they’re so sly.” 

“Oh, Teddy Terry!” exclaimed Polly, “/ think Ann is 
sly, too, ’cause she sets the trap to catch them and ’ceives the 
poor mouses dre’dfully.” 

“Well, the mouses steal things, and that’s wicked : just as 
wicked for insects to do as for children to do !” persisted Teddy, 
warming up to his discussion. 

“They’re not insects” said Polly. “Mouses aren’t insects 
at all ! Flies and things are insects. I should think you 
wouldn’t be so — so iggerunl, Teddy Terry!” 

Teddy turned to appeal to Mrs. Darling, but she had gone 
into the house, and so he had to content himself with sticking 
to his little theory, until there began to be signs of a wee bit 
of a quarrel. They had seated themselves on the piazza steps 
again, and were just making up their minds to turn their 
backs to each other, when suddenly around the corner of the 
house came two very angry hens, flapping their wings, and 
hopping up and down in very aggressive spde. 

They squawked at each other — and pecked at each other, 
and didn’t seem at all ashamed of themselves, because a pair 
of blue and a pair of brown eyes were looking on in aston- 


30 


THE DOINGS OF 


ishment. Gh, no! they tried to fly over each other’s 
heads, and were so disgracefully quarrelsome that the children 
were disgusted. 

“Aren't they silly?” remarked Polly. 

“Let’s shoo ’em 1” suggested Ted. 

But just then a large rooster — gorgeous in green and gold, 
with his bright scarlet comb, and his beautiful tail held high 
for exhibition — came upon the scene. 

He put on his most stately gait, and strutted close up to 
the hens. Then he put his bill close beside the ear of one 
of them and in a jiffy down went the flapping wings and Mrs. 
Hen walked meekly away. The rooster strutted over to the 
other ruffled creature and did precisely the same thing, 
and precisely the same result occurred. Mrs. Hen No. 2 drop- 
ped her wings also, and meekly followed Mrs. Hen No. i. 
The rooster remained sole monarch of the battle-ground, and 
presently giving his own wings a flap, he sent forth a great 
loud “crow” which proclaimed his triumph to all around 
him, and then he, too, disappeared round the corner. 

Now, you little readers may think this is all a “make-up,” 
but the writer saw it with her own eyes— and if you could 
see Polly and Teddy, they, too, would tell you about it. 

“Well, there!” exclaimed Polly, “I think those hens were 
too silly for anything, and if we look so silly when — when you 
don’t ’gree with me — Teddy Terry, why. I’m ’shamed of us, 
arn’t you ?” 

“ ’Course I’m ’shamed, Polly- — but anyhow voe don’t have 
sharp hills to peck at each other and hurt us, and ” 

“But you have sharp little tongues,'' interrupted mamma, 
who came to the door in time to hear the conversation, “and 
you can do considerable wnr(i-pecking, you know. But see! 
there’s your mother, Teddy boy— coming up the path, and T 
expect she has a letter for me, as she is waving it so merrily.” 


A DEAR LITTLE COUPLE. 


31 


The children started down the path with a shout, and that 
was the end of their little difference of opinion. 

When Polly came back — Teddy had gone with his mother 
up their own path on the other side of the garden fence — she 
had her hands clasped behind her back. 

“Auntie Terry did, sure hiough, have a letter, mamma — 
and she said you’d give me a big kiss for it,’’ said the little 
maid, dimpling with roguishness. “But it’s a dre’dful fat letter 
and so it’s ’spensive, and I charge a lot of kisses — awful sweet 
ones — for it — you see.” 

Mamma agreed to pay as extravagant a price as Polly 
demanded — and at last the letter was delivered up, and Polly 
climbed over the fence to search for her playmate. 




CHAPTER V. 


WHAT THE LETTER SAID^ AND A GIFT. 


A fter Mrs. Darling had read her letter, she laughed 
softly all to herself, and looked at the clock. 

“Almost five o’clock,” she said; “the express-man 
will be here very .soon now.” 

Then she looked over the letter again, and although it 
isn’t polite to look over anybody’s shoulder and read a private 
letter — yet you and I, little girls and boys to whom I am 
telling this story, will turn ourselves into fairies a moment, and 
take a peep at the letter which made Mrs. Darling smile. 

“Dear Friend” — the letter began — “I have bought a little 
present for my small piece of sunshine — my little namesake 
Polly — of whom I have been thinking a great deal lately. The 
Midgets around this neighborhood are riding small tricycles, 
and it has popped into my mind that our Polly would like 
32 


A DEAR LITTLE COUPLE. 


33 


and enjoy one too, for she will have a good chance to use 
one on your nice hard country roads. So I am sending one 
up to you, per express, to-day, and it ought to reach our girlie 
by half-past five to-morrow afternoon. I have missed to-day’s 
forwarding or she would get it in the morning. 

“Now, give my love to the dear child, and tell her her god- 
mother thinks of her, and loves her a great deal, and hopes the 
tricycle will give her much pleasure. I have also something else 
to say before I close this short letter, and that is — I shall expect 
a visit from you and Polly, during the time that Mr. Darling 
must be absent on his business trip, and I do not want you to 
refuse my invitation. I suppose he will start off as usual the 
first of September, and if so, you can come along posthaste as 
soon as you can get your clothes into your trunk. W e’ll have a 
nice visit together, and Polly will revel in the toy-stores, and it 
will do you both good. Just drop me a line that I may know 
the tricycle has reached you in good order — and now, dear, I 
must send this along with a kiss enclosed, and love from yours 
— Mary.’^ 

There — now you know why Polly’s mother kept smiling 
over her letter. She knew how delighted her golden-haired 
girlie would be about half-past five that very day, and the 
minutes were scurr3dng by ve-r}^ rapidly meanwhile. And she 
remembered, too, that a tricycle was something Polly wanted 
very much, although she had never teased mamma about 
it — and had never thought of such a thing as envying Teddy 
the possession of his tricycle. Oh, no ; she had been quite 
contented to do the best she could with the little wagon,, 
and ever since that “happy thought” occasion when her wagon: 
and the tricycle of Teddy’s had been made to do duty together,, 
there had been frequent rides enjoyed by the dear little girl 
(although I have not taken time nor space to record them) 
— and Polly had made up her contented little mind that “little 
5 


34 


THE DOINGS OF 


girls mustn’t ’spect to have quite such nice things as boys, ’cause 
they — they were — Teddy said — ‘only just little girls/ "" 

However, — this little girl would soon share and share alike 
with Master Teddy, and mamma knew just how those dear 
blue eyes would sparkle and shine when the express-man would 
drive up to the gate and lift down from his wagon that wonder- 
ful New York present for Polly Darling. 

Sure enough, it was only a few minutes after half-past 
five when the wagon came driving up from the village. It 
happened just at that time, that for want of something else to 
do, it had occurred to the dear little couple to play they were 
beautiful marble statues just placed upon the gateways of the 
Queen’s palace, and so they had perched themselves on the 
gate-posts of Polly’s front lawn — and were sitting very stiff 
and straight, staring right ahead of them — “ ’Cause images 
don’t move their eyes, you know,” — and not even kicking their 
heels against the posts — as they usually did — ‘‘ ’Cause images 
never move their bodies, you know.” 

I think they would have found their new game rather 
tiresome ere long, but before it was time for that, the express- 
man drove up and stopped right there before them. 

“There’s a box here for you. Miss Polly,” said he, as he 
jumped down from his seat, and lifted a box from his wagon. 

Oh, you could have heard Polly’s shout all the way to the 
village, I think! A parcel for her? And in a big box! And 
all the way from New York? Oh, what could it be? The 
“Queen’s beautiful marble statues” came to life in a moment, 
I can assure you, and capered about the express-man in a most 
human-like way, as he went up the path with the box on his 
shoulder and deposited it on Polly’s piazza. 

“Prepaid,” he said, as he hurried back — and so the 
children were left alone with the mystery until Mamma could 
get downstairs and join them. Meanwhile Teddy’s brown 


A DEAR LITTLE COUPLE. 


35 



eyes were sharp 
enough to discov- 
er the shine and 
glint of steel be- 
tween the boards 
— and in another 
moment he shout- 
ed out gleefully 
—“Oh ! oh ! Pol- 
ly — Pollee-e-e ! 

Oh, goody !” 

Polly was not 
long in finding 
out the cause of 
his joy, and then 
there were tzvo 
hopping, dancing creatures about that box. When the gardener 
finally released the pretty little tricycle, and carried away the 
box — Polly and Teddy flew into each other’s arms and vented 
their feelings in a childish hug. Then that beautiful tricycle 
was carried to the walk and speedily mounted by its triumphant 
little owner, while Teddy proudly walked at her side and gave 
her her first lesson in "'s pur ting J' as he called it. Of course she 
rode at once out of her own gate and in at Teddy’s, because 
until Teddy’s mamma had seen, admired, and congratulated, 
Polly felt that her triumph was not quite at its height. After 
that, Bridget and Ann had to leave their work and come out 
with their words of praise, and later on, the two mothers stood 
together and watched a couple of midgets riding side by side 
down the road, happy as a little king and queen, and more than 
likely to forget the caution of their mothers to “go only a little 
way, because it was so near supper-time, and they must get 
themselves in order for the table.” 


CHAPTER VI. 


GOOD-BYE TIME DRAWS NEAR. 


HE weeks passed 
by — as all happy 
summer weeks 
must, especially 
for little folks 
when they are 
having a merry 
time — and what 
with the tricycles 
and a new chair- 
swing, and some 
pic-nics, which 
the mammas got 
up for the enjoy- 
ment of their darlings, as well as for themselves ; and the paint- 
ing-books; and the broad meadows which made such delightful 
play-grounds — and the huge rubber ball (as big as the moon — 
when it looks its very biggest and roundest) which Teddy’s 
papa brought up from the city one day as a joint possession for 
the little couple ; and the sailing of some toy birch-bark boats 
(which the mammas had bought of an old Indian Who wan- 
dered that way one day) — pretty little boats all gaily decorated 
with red and yellow that were launched in a tub ‘^ocean” right 
beside the kitchen door, and sailed in safety from one port to 
another; and the new plan of Polly’s mamma which was to 
36 



A DEAR LITTLE COUPLE. 


37 


have a half-hour every morning of study for the children, so 
that they might not grow tired of their beautiful play- 
times, at last, as to get a little wearied with them and 
each other (she decided that “all play and no work would 
teach the little folks to shirk/' after a while, and so she 
started the study time, and of course Ted had to join, and 
since then they had enjoyed their play with more zest, she 
fancied). 

What with all these things, I say, and lots more of which 
I’ve neither time nor space to write — the children didn’t realize 
how quickly time was flying, and before they knew it, Sep- 
tember was close at hand. 

Now, Polly knew that papa had to go away on a business 
trip (she pronounced it ^'hizcnce trip”) in September, and she 
began to get lonely for him even before he went away. She 
knew he would be gone long weeks, and she did not see how 
mamma and she could ever get along without him. 

But one day mamma said cheerih^ : 

“I have a secret to tell anybody who wants to hear it. 
Teddy, do you know of a little girl who might like to hear 
my secret?” 

Teddy looked at Polly, and winked one merry brown eye. 

Polly looked at mamma roguishly, and said, “I guess ’tisn’t 
only a gfr/M like to hear secrets, ’cause there’s a hoy here that 
just loves ’em.” 

“Wbv, Polly Darling!” said Ted— “I don’t either !” 

“I didn’t say it was you,” replied Miss Polly, “but you’re 
ft, all the same, and — please do tell us both this very instant 
minute, dear mamma Darline!” 

“Well,” began mamma, “T know a ladv and little girl who 
have had an invitation to visit in New York, and I have an 
Mea that vou know who the lady is, as well as I know who the 
little girl is.” 


38 


A DEAR LITTLE COUPLE. 


‘'Oh! mamma! mamma! do you — you don’t really — 
mamma, is it — do you mean iisf” 

“I shouldn’t wonder, since the invitation came from a lady 
who has a little godchild named Polly !” 

Polly jumped up and down with excitement. “Oh, when 
did you get the beautiful invitation, mamma dear?” she asked, 
“I never knew it ! did we, Teddy ?” 

Teddy mournfully shook his head. He was too full of a 
dreadful anxiety lest his darling little playmate was going to 
leave him, to even smile because she was smiling; as he 
usually did. 

“The invitation came in a letter which you gave me long 
ago when your tricycle came, you remember,” replied mamma, 
“but I didn’t tell you, because I wasn’t sure I could go. But 
papa thinks it a good plan, and I have now sent a definite 
reply to our friend, and have told her to expect us next week.’^ 

Two sounds were sent out upon the air, at the conclusion 
of mamma’s sentence. One was a howl — a regular howl of 
despair from Teddy, and the other was a laugh of delight 
from Polly. 

But when she saw poor Teddy’s downcast face — she 
stopped laughing and looked doleful too. 

“Oh, I forgot! mamma,” said she — “I forgot Teddy. I 
don’t think I want to go away from Teddy ’cause we love each 
other — don’t we, Teddy? — and — and I’d be too lonesome for 
anything, truly I would, ’thout Teddy to play with. Don’t let 
us go, mamma dear.” 

Mrs. Darling couldn’t help laughing, but she explained 
that as things were now arranged it would not be possible 
to change plans, and that it would be quite impolite into 
the bargain, if so kind an invitation were declined for no better 
excuse than Polly’s. 

So the children decided that they wopld not be separated 


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couple danced around.” 


40 


THI<: DOINGS OF 


one moment except when separation could not be avoided, 
during the week of companionship still left them. 

“I wish 1 had a godmother, too, to Vite me to visit her,” 
said Teddy grievingly, and Polly wondered if she could share 
her kind godmother with him. 

They hadn’t much idea of the real meaning of godmothers, 
but I think they looked upon them as beings something like 
those fairy individuals to be found in fairy tales, who go about 
with wands and silver wings and grant wishes to good little 
people. 

Polly comforted Teddy with the promise that she would 
ask her godmother to be Teddy’s godmother also, and surely 
great results for him would follow. 

The promise so cheered Teddy that he grew quite light- 
hearted, and in his turn made a promise that he would try 
very hard not to grieve too much when Polly left him, and 
that he would look carefully after her tricycle (which was to 
be left quite in his care during her absence), and that every 
time he rode on his own, he would think about Polly and miss 
her very much. 

Then they went to their “thinking-place” in the old apple- 
tree to think up “something to do.” 

Just then along came an organ-man with a monkey, and 
stopping at the gate of Teddy’s house, began to grind out a 
jig, while the little red-coated monkey hopped up and down, 
waving his little cap and coaxing for pennies. 

Of course it wasn’t a minute before the little monkeys in 
the tree were down on solid ground again and racing along 
the path to where the organ-man stood smiling and bowing 
as he turned his crank. And also, of course, it didn’t take 
long for Teddy to scamper back to the house and beg a few 
pennies from Mamma Terry for the cunning little monkey to 
pass to the man. 


A DEAR LITTLE COUPLE. 


41 



Teddy and Polly blushed, but the boy was nothing loth 
to kiss his little Polly, you know — so in a moment his arms 
were around her and a kiss planted on her rosy cheek. Then 
to a merry waltz tune, the little couple joined the monkey in 
dancing around (though, to be sure, they were not taking such 
steps as would please a dancing-master). 

But all too soon the frolic was at an end, for the 
organ-man drew his pet to his shoulder, shifted his organ to 
6 


“Now the monk kissa you, leetle ladee,” said the man 
■presently, when Polly had put her third penny into the little 
black paw. 

But Polly wasn’t willing to be kissed by a monkey. Oh ! 
no ! and the man laughed. 

“No kissa de monk? ah well! De leetle signor should 
kissa de leetle signorina — dat ees better; so?” 


42 


A DEAR LITTLE COUPLE. 


his Strong back, and said “gooda day” to his small and 
select audience, as he went down the road in search of 
more pennies. 

While the children were returning to the apple-tree, 
Polly’s mamma came out upon the piazza, and they told her 
about the fun they had been having. 

“I know it,” she said, “I saw you from my window, and 
the monkey reminded me of a funny monkey story I once read. 
If you will remind me about it, on the afternoon before Polly 
and I go to New York, Teddy, I will tell you both the story 
then, and it will keep you from being so sorry that you will 
have to be torn apart so cruelly for the ver}^, very long time of 
two whole monstrous weeks !” 

She laughed as she said it, and pinched a fat cheek of each 
little face looking up at her. 

The children were quite anxious to hear the story now 
— but deciding that Mamma’s plan was a wise one — they ran 
away to their play — and we will now turn to the next chapter 
of their doings. 


CHAPTER VIL 


THE STORY AND THE PARTING. 

I T was a very bright ray of sunshine which fell across 
Teddy’s face on a certain morning not long after this, 
and awoke him from a happy dream, in which Polly 
and he had been in New York city together, having a most 
glorious time with the kind godmother, who fluttered about 
with them on the most beautiful white wings, and guided them 
everywhere amongst the wonderful toy-stores and fascinating 
places of the big city. 

When the sunbeam awoke him, his little face was smiling 
all over, from his rosy lips to the clustering curls on his 
forehead. But as soon as he was fairly awake the smile faded 
away, and Teddy became a sad little boy on the instant. 

Why? Oh, this, you must know, was Polly’s ‘^going- 
off day,” and it had all come over Teddy’s memory like a 
flash, the very instant he had returned from dreamland. No 
wonder his smile had vanished so soon, and no wonder that 
when mamma came to help him get ready for breakfast, he 

had quite lost his usually eager appetite, and was ready to cry, 

43 


44 


THE DOINGS OF 


only it would have been “too much like a girl’ to do that. 
However, he managed to eat enough to keep him alive, and 
afterwards he scampered over to find Poll}^, and with their arms 
around each other’s necks, the little couple wandered about the 
garden, hardly knowing what to do with themselves. 

Polly, of course, was not quite so miserable as Teddy-boy, 
because she had the delightful anticipation of her visit before 
her — but there was no mistake about the fact of her leaving 
the most of her little heart behind her with the laddie who 
would be so lonely without her. 

They took a last ride on their tricycles, and they sat in the 
apple-tree together for their confidential talk as usual, and they 
got Tom the gardener to crack a penny in halves, so that Polly 
could keep one half, and Teddy the other, and they would be 
like the fairy prince and princess their story-book told of — 
who pined for each other with the halves of a silver sixpence 
until they met again, and the two halves were instantly joined 
together. Oh, Polly and Teddy were quite a sentimental little 
couple, I can assure you. 

The morning slipped by, somehow, in less time than the 
children desired, and after the luncheon — which they ate 
together by very special invitation— at Polly’s table — the time 
arrived when according to promise the “monkey story” was 
all ready for recital. The little girl and boy did not have 
to remind Mamma about it, either, for she was one of the 
kind who always remembered a promise when once it was 
given. So, as they were sitting close beside her on the piazza, 
by-and-by, she began 

“Once upon a time there was a very ’cute little monkey 
whose name was 

“Professor Jake. 

He wasn’t very good-looking in the face— nor did he have a 
very fine figure: he hadn’t the sweetest voice in the world, 


A DEAR LITTLE COUPLE. 


45 


and his eyes were not what could be called very sweet and 
winning in expression. But all the same — he was a dear little 
fellow, and clever in his way, as many — well, as many who 
were not born monkeys, but yet acted very much like one. 



Well — this little Professor lived with a human Professor who 
taught music, and had a great many pupils coming to his music- 
room for lessons, during that part of the day when he was not 
out giving lessons to pupils in their own houses. 

“Professor Jake was a great friend of his and a great pet 


46 


TPIE DOINGS OF 


as well. He had bought him from an organ-man who had 
trained him nicely in all sorts of tricks, and had taught him 
to beat time with a little stick to the tunes the organ played. 
Professor Jake always liked to be present when his master gave 
music lessons in the studio, and had learned to mimic the 
signor’s manner very nicely. But he was not permitted to 
show off any tricks during the lesson hours, and had been 
taught to sit very quietly in a chair beside the piano, or else be 
sent out of the room. 

“One day it chanced that the signor had been detained a 
little beyond his usual time, and several pupils were in the 
music studio awaiting him. They were not there long before 
the door opened, and Professor Jake walked in. I suppose 
his instinct told him that lesson-time was passing (monkeys 
are almost human, you know, sometimes), for he picked up 
the signor’s baton fthe little stick with which he beat time), 
jumped into the signor’s chair, stood upright on his little hairy 
hind-legs, and with great dignity — as he had seen his master 
do — pointed to the lesson-books containing the scales, and then 
began to beat time. 

“The children just screamed with fun over the thing, and 
opening their books began to sing as loud as possible, and 
made, purposely, all sorts of discords. 

“The monkey Professor didn’t seem to mind the discords 
— but waved his baton and his arms, and gravely continued his 
duties while the laughing and the screaming went on, bravely 
— until the signor’s wife and the signor himself, who had just 
come in, were amazed at the musical noise the moment they 
entered the hall-door. 

“When they opened the music-room door — there was Pro- 
fessor Jake, busily giving the pupils their delayed lesson, and 
you -may be sure the signor, and his wife as well, were not 
long in joining the little folks in their laughter. 


A DEAR LITTLE COUPLE. 


47 


“Well — as soon as Professor Jake saw his master, he 
dropped his baton, placed one paw upon his heart, bowed very 
low, and jumping oft the chair, resigned his position to the 
'right man/ and vanished from the scene as though he feared 
he might get a scolding for his presumption. 

“Now, my story is ended, and whenever you see a monkey 
again — suppose you will think of Professor Jake and how 
he taught music.” 

Teddy and Polly had laughed so heartily over this story 
that they had quite forgotten to be doleful, although in half 
an hour more Polly and mamma would be starting for the 
depot. But when the half-hour had really passed, and the 
good-byes were all said, you may be sure there were a few 
tears in Polly’s eyes, and a little lump in Teddy’s throat. 

However, the cloud didn’t last long — for Polly whispered 
in his ear of all the lovely gifts she meant to bring back with 
her for Teddy, and the glowing picture had a wonderful effect 
upon the spirits of both of them. He waved his hat to her 
from the depot platform, as she poked her merry little face 
out of the car window, and called out her good-byes, and the 
passengers heard his shout — 

“Good-bye, Polly Darling! don’t ever forget I love you 
lots and lots, and — and yon love me lots ’n’ lots ’n’ lots, don’t 
you? Good-bye — e — e — !” 

As the train moved away, and he ran beside it still shouting 
— people couldn’t help smiling, even though they felt sorry 
for him and for Polly, who presently leaned her little face 
against mamma’s shoulder and had a wee bit of a cry, half 
sad and half glad. 

Teddy and h’^? mamma went home from the depot at once, 
but she noticed that her little boy didn’t go with a hop, skip, 
and jump as usual — but walked along quite quietly, for a 
usually frolicsome laddie. 


48 


A DEAR LITTLE COUPLE. 


And now, my little reader, some day I will tell you of 
Polly and Teddy visiting in New York city together, and of 
what fine times they had, and we must bid them good-bye 
till then. 

You may be sure, however, that when Polly’s visit to her 
godmother was ended — there were many more merry little 
doings going on in the country home, for our dear little couple, 
and the two halves of the penny were glued together by Tom, 
the moment the children met again. 

GOOD-BYE, 




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